Thomas returns home

The pilot of a small plane stops to salute as the coffin bearing Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas of Easley is transferred from a transport plane at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to a hearse.

Anderson Independent Mail

Military officials pause as the coffin bearing Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas, a S.C. National Guardsman from Easley, leaves the transport plane at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport for a hearse.

Anderson Independent Mail

Chandler Hutcheson of Greer holds a flag of the United States while sitting on the shoulders of his father, Philip Hutcheson, as they watch a S.C. National Guardsman walk by. The father and son were marking the arrival of the coffin bearing Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas of Easley at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

Anderson Independent Mail

Chandler Hutcheson of Greer holds a flag of the United States sitting on the shoulders of his father, Philip Hutchrson, as they watch the coffin bearing Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas of Easley leave the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in a hearse.

Anderson Independent Mail

South Carolina Adjutant Gen. Robert Livingston kneels at the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

Anderson Independent Mail

A crowd salutes with small United States flags as the coffin bearing Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas leaves Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport headed toward Easley.

Anderson Independent Mail

Chandler Hutcheson of Greer holds a flag of the United States while being held by his mother, Hillary Hutcheson.

Anderson Independent Mail

Cherie Coon of Greenville cries as a hearse carrying the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas in Easley leaves Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport headed for Robinson Funeral Home in Easley. The S.C. National Guardsman was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan on June 20.

South Carolina Adjutant Gen. Robert Livingston helps direct a line of men before the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas arrives at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Sgt. Thomas, a S.C. National Guardsman, was killed in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber on June 20.

Anderson Independent Mail

Lt. Col. Les Carroll, deputy public affairs officer for the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard, salutes as the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas arrives at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport. Ive seen 109 of these in Dover (Air Force Base), Lt. Col. Carroll said.

Anderson Independent Mail

S.C. National Guardsmen stand near the plane which brought Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

A crowd salutes with small United States flags as the coffin bearing Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas leaves Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport headed toward Easley.

Anderson Independent Mail

Addison Watson of Duncan holds a flag of the United States near Layla Padgett of Reidville before the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas arrives by plane at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

Anderson Independent Mail

An Honor Guardsman wipes his brow in 100-degree heat before the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas arrives by transport plane at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

S.C. National Guardsmen salute as a casket with Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas, a S.C. National Guardsman killed in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber, arrives at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport.

Anderson Independent Mail

S.C. National Guardsmen gather for a short briefing before the coffin of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas arrives at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

Anderson Independent Mail

A S.C. National Guardsmen carries bottled water for those who turned out to honor Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford Thomas.